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Win a 32GB iPad 2 with Vonage TimeToCall

[box]This contest is now closed[/box]

Hey, it’s time! In association with Vonage and their new TimeToCall app, I’m giving away a 32GB WiFi iPad2 to one lucky reader. There’s a heap more information about the TimeToCall application in my previous post.

The awesome thing about this competition is that if you don’t win my iPad2, you can enter to win at a bunch of other sites too. Heck, even if you do win my one, you can still enter to win more! Whoops! Turns out if you win my one, you’re ineligible for other draws, so don’t be greedy 🙂

On to the detail. There are two ways to enter, and you can do one or both:

  1. Add a comment below, telling us about your most amazing 15 minutes. Fact or fiction, I don’t mind.
  2. Post this short link on Twitter: http://nzben.tv/vonageipad and include the #TimeToCall hashtag so we can find it.

So, if you do both of these things, that’s two entries into the competition.

Conditions:

  1. Competition closes 11:59pm August 21st 2011.
  2. Competition open to New Zealand and Australia only.
  3. We’ll pay shipping, but any taxes or additional costs are the responsibility of the winner.
  4. One entry of each type (one comment, one tweet) per person – additional entries will void all your entries.
  5. Comment entries must include a valid email address (not displayed to the public).
  6. Winners will be drawn at random.
  7. Winners will be contacted via email or twitter. If no response is recieved in 48 hours from notification, another draw will be made.

[box]This contest is now closed[/box]

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Vonage TimeToCall and a Huge iPad2 Giveaway

It appears that Voice over IP is making huge strides into the consumer space at the moment. What with my new Genius VoIP connection, and now this new TimeToCall app from Vonage, VoIP is truly become accessible to everyone’s granny.

TimeToCall takes a very different approach to VoIP billing: one charge for a 15 minute call, billed to your iTunes account. One price for landline or mobile calls up to 15 minutes in length. No bills at the end to month, no need to create an account, no need to visit a store or another web site to purchase calling cards. And your first call to overseas destinations is free!

If you’re someone that chats regularly with overseas colleagues, friends and family, TimeToCall looks like a pretty good option. You can place calls anywhere your iPhone or iPad can get a 3G connection in the US or Canada, or worldwide using WiFi.

Multiple Chances to Win an iPad 2

To get the word out, Vonage is partnering with a ton of blogs around the world to promote this app, and each blog will give away a 32GB iPad 2, using a competition of their own choice. And yes, ben.geek.nz is participating. You check out the full list of participating websites here. You’ll see at least two other kiwi options: Geekzone and iPhonewzealand. Keep an eye on the dates so you can enter the competitions. My competition will start next week, and Mauricio’s is running right now.

Check out how TimeToCall works in this video:

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Milestone Winners and Also Winners

You’re all winners. I feel genuinely terrible having to pick just two winners from the amazing entries you guys put together. Top work all round, but there has to be only two. Actually, there are two I’ve chose to win, and one very honorable mention – I’ll dig something out of the prize cupboard to send to that runner up.

First winner is the Lego Milestone. I just giggled all the way through this video. It captures the gadget “unboxing” meme perfecly, with references to jokes like the iPhone reception issue. Then the exact weight just tops it off. Seriously, watch the whole thing:

And the second winner is this incredible model. I can’t imagine the time that went into it. I’ll forgive the scales because apparently they only measure in twos, but even if they don’t it’s so close as to be negligible. Top stuff!

And a couple of VERY honourable mentions. If I had more Milestones these guys would get one. There’s one thing that I think lets the first video down – the jump-cut before the blender is turned on. Fantastic video though, and yes I’ll dig something else out of the prize cupboard for this chap!

And look! Here’s a knitted, dissected rat, mounted on a corkboard, and weighed on an incredibly accurate scientific balance:

And here’s the rest of the entries – like I say you’re all awesome!


… and a video.

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Win one of TWO Motorola Milestones (thanks Telecom!)

Motorola MilestoneThat’s right. Priced at $999 and not even officially available yet, I’ve got two of these puppies to give away to you fullahs, courtesy of Telecom. They run on the XT network and are capable of download speeds up to 10Mbps. In reality I’ve done speed tests and regularly get around 3-4Mbps which is still brilliant. These phones are fantastic – seriously top build quality and running Android 2.1 with all the bells and whistles. Email, web, GPS, Facebook, you name it, this phone can do it.

Given the incredible quality of the prize, I’m not going to make it easy. I’m pretty desperate to keep one of these for myself, so if the entry quality isn’t up to scratch, then I’m not going to let the second one go. Don’t let me down.

Here’s how we’re going to run it. The phone weighs 165 grams, which is one of the heavier phones I’ve seen. I jokingly call it the millstone. So, you have two options: send me a photo of something that weighs exactly* 165 grams, AND/OR send me a photo of a really funny “millstone” sight-gag.

One entry per person for both. So yes, you can enter twice if you send a photo of something that weighs 165 grams AND a stupid millstone joke. Videos are cool too if you roll that way, and will likely get extra points for difficulty. Don’t send me 200MB video files; use Vimeo or something.

Then, next Sunday (29th August), I’ll pick the two most interesting or hilarious entries and post them up (along with all other entries so you can argue about my judgement). If you need a point of reference for how this ends up looking, check Gizmodo’s photoshop contests (but I’m looking for non-shopped photos).

Cool?

Here’s the stuff to stop foreigners and dumb people entering:

  • Send entries to milestone@ben.geek.nz with the subject “Milestone”.
  • One or two emails per entry (if you’re entering both options, you can send in a single or separate emails, just don’t enter multiple times).
  • Entries limited to New Zealand residents only (sorry guys, the postage will kill me).
  • The items are brand new, but may have been opened and reviewed for this website and TVNZ.
  • Entries close Sunday 29 August 2010 at 5:00pm (NZ time).
  • Winners will be contacted by email.
  • If winners don’t respond within 1 week, the prize is forfeited.

And no, I won’t keep or spam your email address, and you retain all the copyrighty stuff to your images and videos. IANAL. I’m also not a lawyer.

*I’m not going to ask for proof of scale calibration, but I’m not going to just take any old weight. Use your imagination. Borrow some digital scales from your neighbourhood P lab, or video yourself measuring those 50g division lines on a pack of butter. I know Giapo Gelato on Queen Street has digital scales that he’ll probably let you use for a second if you tell him why.

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Kick Ass Bluray Winners

From a fair number of entries, I think these two deserve to win. I’ll be contacting them for delivery details.

Jon appeals to my pacifist side:
[quote]If I am ever caught in a situation where fighting is an option, I take all my clothes off.Nobody wants to fight a naked guy.[/quote]
And Richard says … well, just read it:
[quote]In 2006 I got jumped by a surprise dose of StageIV lymphoma, I kicked it’s ass and 4 years later still live to tell the tale.[/quote]
Congrats! I haven’t actually received the Bluray discs from Universal yet, but will ship them as soon as I do.